Yellow squash is a winter vegetable famous for its sweet, nutty taste. The flavor vaguely resembles that of sweet potatoes, but has a smoother texture. With a little practice it is not difficult to prepare and cook it, and in any case the effort is well rewarded. Read this article to learn how to peel and cut yellow squash.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Basic Technique
Step 1. Sharpen the knife if necessary
It is important to work with the right tools and in excellent condition as yellow squash is very hard. A blunt knife could easily slip and cut you. Use a thick, heavy knife for this job.
Step 2. Cut the top
After placing the pumpkin on the cutting board, remove the top for about 1.5 cm just below the stem. While doing this, hold it firmly on the widest part.
Step 3. Cut the bottom
Now grab the squash by the narrowest part and remove the bottom, following the same method as in the previous step.
Step 4. Peel the pumpkin
At this point you have a stable surface to rest it on the cutting board and you can start removing the zest. Use a peeler or, if you don't have a sturdy one, a very sharp knife.
- Place the pumpkin on the widest part, where you cut it. Hold it by the upper end and with vertical movements from top to bottom eliminates the zest.
- Alternatively, you can hold the pumpkin in your hand and peel it with horizontal movements.
Step 5. Divide it in half
Always keep it leaning against the cutting board vertically. Place the knife on the upper end and go down. Try to make a clean break.
- This can be difficult at times, because the squash is very tough. If necessary, you can help yourself with a rubber mallet and tap the blunt edge of the knife to penetrate the pulp.
- If that doesn't work, use a serrated knife and “saw” the pumpkin in half.
Step 6. Remove the seeds and stringy pulp
Use a metal spoon to dig inside each half pumpkin. You can save the seeds for roasting or to use them as you like.
Step 7. Divide each pumpkin half again
Place it on the cutting board and cut it widthwise, so as to divide the widest part from the narrowest part. At this point you should have 4 pieces of pumpkin.
Step 8. Cut each piece into strips
Their thickness varies according to the recipe you have to follow. They are usually 1.5-2.5cm.
Step 9. Cut the strips into cubes
You can keep the pumpkin in strips or cut it into cubes.
- If you want to save some time when cutting it, stack the strips on top of each other and divide them all together with a clean swipe. Be careful not to slip them as you cut, or you will get irregular cubes.
- Remember that the smaller the pieces, the faster they will cook. Evaluate their size based on the recipe you need to prepare.
Method 2 of 2: Eat the Yellow Pumpkin
Step 1. Make roasted pumpkin cubes
After having seasoned them with a little olive oil, salt and pepper, put the pumpkin cubes in a preheated oven at 180 ° C. Remove them when they are golden and crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.
- Add spices like cumin, chilli, or cayenne pepper if you want a strong flavor dish.
- If, on the other hand, you want a tasty dessert, add brown sugar, maple syrup or honey.
Step 2. Make soup
It is a soft and silky cream, perfect for warming up during the winter evenings. To prepare it follow these instructions:
- Roast the pumpkin cubes in the oven until tender.
- Meanwhile, sauté a chopped onion and a couple of chopped garlic cloves in a large pot with a little olive oil.
- Add the diced pumpkin and a liter of chicken or vegetable broth.
- Bring everything to a boil and then reduce the heat, letting it simmer for 20 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste, and then blend the mixture to obtain a cream.
- Serve the soup with a splash of cream and black pepper.
Step 3. Cook it whole
If you don't want to peel it, you can put it in the oven as it is and cut it when it is soft. Prick it with a fork and put it in the oven, on a baking tray, at 180 ° C. Cook it for about an hour or until it becomes tender. Remove it from the oven, let it cool for a few minutes and slice it.
